Machine for sealing and stamping envelops.



No.74 6 114. I-PATENTED DEO.8,1903.

J. E. LESTER.

MACHINE FOR SEALING AND STAMPING ENVELOPS. APPLICATION FILED mm: 14, 1902.

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110.746.11 1. PATENTED DB0.- s, 1903.

J. E. LESTER.

MACHINE FOR SEALING AND STAMPING ENVELOPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1902.

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No. 746,114. PATENTED DEC. 8. 1903. J. E. LESTER.

MACHINE FOR SEALING AND STAMBING ENVELOPS.

APPLICATION FILED JfiNE 14, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 1 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTOR ATTDRNEYS 'rn: annals PETERS cu. woman-no. WASNINGTON. n. c.

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' J. E. LESTER.

MACHINE FOR SEALING AND STAMPING ENVELOPSF APPLIOATION FILED JUNE] 14, 1902.

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UNITED STATES I atented December 8, 1903.

{PATE T OF ICE. I

"JOHN E. LESTER, 0E OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

MACHINVEFOR SEALING AND STAMPING ENVELOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 746,1 14, dated. December 8, 1903. Application filed June 14, 1902. gerial No. 111,765. (No model.) Y Q I T0 to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. LESTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas, State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for "Scaling and. Stamping Envelops, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to envelop'sealing and stamping machines; and the object'thereof is to provide a mechanism capable of using stamps from the sheets in which they are sold and which will not require hand-feeding of the envelops which are to be sealed and stamped.

My invention lies inthe improved envelop and stamp feed, in the moistening and sealing devices, and in certain other new and useful combinations and arrangements of partsp as Will be more fully describedghereinafter-r A mechanism embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in

v which.

line a: a; of Fig. 1.

Figure 1 is a front'elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a right-hand end elevation of the; same. Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken onthe: Fig. 4. is a sectional plan; view taken on the line y y of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are details showing the action of'the stamp-feed and reverse movements. Fig. 7 is a detail end view of the stamp-carriage, feed-pinion, and the spring-clutch therein. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of the same. Fig. 9 is a detail end elevation of the stamp-dieactuating arms. Fig. 10 is a detail showing the ejector-release lever. Fig. 11 is aplan viewillustrating the operations of tripping and resetting the ejector.

In the construction shown suitable frames. 1 and 2 are joined together and held in their proper relative positions by the bars 4 and 5. Ribsv 27, extending from the inner faces of the frames 1 and 2, support a top or table 26.

At the rear side of the table 26 and secured to the bar 4is an envelop receptacle or magazine 74, which is open at one end, so that the envelops may be readily inserted therein, and has an adjustable side 92, which may be moved back and forth to accommodate different sizes of envelope. A follower 75 is arranged within theenvelopmagazine and is normally pushed upward by the conical coiled springs 90. The envelope A are placed face downward upon this follower, as shown in Fig. 3. Tongues 91 on the follower pass throughcorresponding vertical slots in the movable -side 92 and support the rear portions of the envelope when the larger sizes of the same are used. Other tongues 109 on the movable side 92 project over the top of the envelop-magazine and form a stop which engages the rear portions of the envelops and holds the same down inthe magazine against the upward pressure of the follower. The flap upon the uppermost envelop is therefore free to-rise, asshown in Fig. 3. 7'

An envelop-carrier andfiap-moistener 21, comprising a flaringinclined hollow foot 21 and a tubular shank 14, is suspended above themagazine by a horizontal support consisting of a rod 10. The rear end of rod 10 is supported and finds abearing in the standand 83, resting on the'base-plate. 94, and the forward end of the rod is supported bya hear- .ing ll 'on an arm-11, extended from the side frame 1. is a yoke through which passes the stem or shank 14. of the carrier and moistener 21. The stem 14 has collars 13 thereon above and below the rod, and centering-springs 15 are placed between the collars and the rod, which springs permit the carrier to be raised or lowered for the purposes hereinafter set forth,

but return the carrier to its normal central position when released. One side of the hearing 11 is open,and the part of the rod 10 which extends through the bearing is rectangular in section. The rod therefore cannot turn in its hearings. A pin 12 inthe loearing ll ex- .tendsinto a slot in the rod and prevents the same from being drawn out of the open-sided hearing. A connecting-rod 9 is connected by a pin to the square portion of the horizontal rod and extends to a pin upon a crank-wheel 8 on a suitably-driven shaft'7. The'drivingshaft 7 is journaled in a bearing 6 upon a standard 6 and also in the side frame 2 and in a bracket 3, secured to said frame. When the shaft 7 is turned and the wheeLS rotated, motion is communicated through the connecting-rod 9 to the horizontal rod 10 and reciprocates the same, thereby moving the envelop carrier and moistener to and fro transversely of the magazine. A guide-bar 18 is supported At the central part of the said rod.

alongside the carrier shank 14 by suitable connecting-pieces 17 and 19, extending, respectively, to the bearing 11 and standard 83. During the forward stroke of the carrier a pin 20 on the side of the shank 1A1 engages a camsurface 18 at the rear end of the bar 18 and then travels along the underside of the guide, which thus holds the carrier down close to the table 26. At the end of the forward stroke of the carrier the latter is raised by the tension of the lower spring and the pin 20 rises above the point of an inclined face 18 at the forward end of the guide 18. On the rearward stroke of the carrier the pin runs above the guide, being raised by the inclined surface 18 On reaching the end of the rearward stroke of the carrier the pin 20 drops off the rear end of the guide and on beginning the next forward stroke is again engaged by the inclined surface at the rear end of the guide and carried under the same during the forward stroke. The carrier and moistener is thus depressed from its normal position during its forward stroke and raised above said position during its rearward stroke.

The envelops are placed in the receptacle or magazine with the flaps up and at the front side of the magazine. The fingers 109 composing the stop are made short enough not to cover the flaps, so that the flap of the up permost envelop projects above the top of the box, and when the carrier is depressed by the guide and carried forward the point of the carrier engages with the flap of the uppermost envelop and pulls the said envelop out of the receptacle and onto the table 26. W'hen the carrier is raised at the end of the forward stroke, the envelop is left lying on the table 26. The carrier and the shank thereof are hollow and are filled with water, and the lower end of the carrier is filled with sponge or other porous substance to permit a limited amount of the water to pass through and onto the upper side of the envelop under the flap.

Immediately above the forward edge of the table 26 is a shaft 2 which is journaled in the side frames 1 and 2. On this shaft is secured the sealing-press 23. The under side of the sealing-press is padded with felt, soft rubber, or other elastic substance 25. An arm 22 extends upward from the sealingpress and is joined by the connecting-rod 16 to the horizontal rod 10, so that when the said rod 10 moves forward the said arm is pushed forward and the sealing-press is raised to an approximately vertical position, and when the rod 10 is at the end of its rearward stroke the padded face 25 of the said press is pressed firmly onto the table 26. Beneath the table are a pair of shafts 2921,1161 30, which are journaled in the side frames 1 and 2 and which serve as supports and guides for the end frames 28 of a stamp-carriage The frames 28 are held together by a rear bar 31 and a ratchetbar 33. Feed-rolls 87, 88, 88, and 89 and pressure-rolls 70 70 7O 70 are ljournaled in the end frames 28 of the car- 69, which is secured to lugs on the side frame 1. A spring 68 is secured at one end to the shaft 69 and at the other to the wheel 67, so as to exert a tension on the wheel and tend to wrap the strap around the same and to draw the stamp-carriage toward the left side of the machine.

As postagestamps are usuallysold in sheets of one hundred stamps, which are arranged in ten rows of ten stamps each, I prefer to so construct the mechanism as to accommodate such sheets, although the mechanism illus trated might be arranged for use with sheets of any size.

Between the intermediate feed'rolls 88 88 of the stamp-carriage and resting on the bar 5 is a rectangular guide-box 76, the upper edge of which is flush with the tops of the feed-rolls. In this box is arranged a stamppunch 85, the top edge of which normally rests even with the top edge of the box 70. On the stem of the punch are a pair of small collars, between which extend the ends of a smallforked arm 86, attached to the shaft 62. lhe shaft 62 is jonrnaled in the side frames 1 and 2, and passing through the frame 1 has a small lever-arm (l3 thereon. On the same end of the shaft 24 is a crank or arm 64, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, which when the sealing-plate is pressed down, as before described, strikes the arm 63, presses the same downward, raises the forked arm 86, Fig. 3, and raises the punch 85 up through the opening 93 in the table 26.

The shaft has a keyway 30 therein which is engaged by a feather in the feed-roll 89, so that the turning, of the said shal't turns the said roll, while the roll is also permitted to slide along the shaft. The sheet of stamps, as before mentioned, is placed between the feed and pressure rolls by inserting the edge of the sheet between the front roll 87 and the up and then turning the knob on the end of the shaft 30 until the first stamp at the left end of the sheet appears under the opening 93 in the table 26, the carriage being in the right-hand position. (Shown in Fig. 1.)

wheel is arranged to rotate on a fixed shaft first pressure-roll with the gumrned side- Now as the envelops are carried across the table by the carrier, as before described, they pass over a sponge 84 placed in a small depression or cup 84 in the top of the table, which sponge is kept wet by water conducted thereto by a small pipe 80 from the tank 81, as shown. As the envelop is moistened on the under side and as it is held down firmly by the sealing-press, when astamp is carried up and pressed against it by the punch it will stick to the envelop.

Arrangements are made for feeding the stamps into position above the punch as follows: On the shaft 7, between the side frame 2 and bracket 3, is a pinion 50, which meshes with a gear 48 on shaft 49, which is also journaled in frame 2 and bracket 3. On this shaft 49 is a pinion 47, which meshes with an operating-gear 42 on a shaft 51. Thesaid gears and pinions are so proportioned that the gear 42 will make one revolution to each twenty revolutions of the shaft 7. The gear 42 is divided into twenty equal divisions, and at nine of these consecutive divisions a series of pins 46 are placed on one side of the said gear. At the opposite nine consecutive divisions are placed a series of pins on the other side of the gear, the divisions between each series being left without pins, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Adjacent to thelower part of the gear and arranged to engage with the pins 46 and 45, respectively, are the star-wheels 54 and 55, which are secured to gears 53 and 52, respectively, Figs. 1, 5, and 6. As the pins 45 and 46 pass the star-wheels the same are turned forward one division for each pin. The gear 52 meshes with a pinion 56, secured to the shaft 30 by a springclutch, as hereinafter described, so that each time one of the pins 45 passes the star-wheel the feed-rolls of the stamp-carriage are moved a distance equal to the length of one stamp. Thus when the first stamp is placed under the opening 93 in the table and the same is out OK and affixed to the envelopthe sheet is fed transversely of the machine and a second stamp is moved forward under the opening by the time another envelop is in position to be stamped, and so on until the first row of stamps isused. Now for the first row of stamps the carriage is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and is held in this position against the tension of the spring 68by a pawl 34, engaging with one of the teeth on the rack 33. The pawl 34 passes through the bar 5 and is held in position by a forked lever 36, which is pivoted on the under side of the bar 5 and at its other end holds asimilar pawl 35, adapted to move upward when the first pawl is vmoved down, and vice versa, the pawls and connecting-lever forming a dog for effecting the step-by-step release of the carriage.

tached to the lever 36 is an arm 37, which is. pivotally connected with a longitudinallymovablerod 38, which rod is pivoted to the. end of a tripping-lever 39. The. lever 39 is pivoted on a pin 40 on the frame 2 and has a forked upper end 41',"extending on each side of the gear 42. V Diametrically opposite each other and on opposite sides of the operatinggear .42 are wedge shaped projections 43, which as they pass the ends 41 of the forked lever push the same in and out alternately,

thereby pushing back and forth the rod 38 and alternately raising and depressing the pawls 34 and 35. As the pawl 34 is depressed and thepawl 35 raised the carriage is pulled over by the spring until the first tooth of the I rackengages with the pawl 35, when the movement of the carriage is stopped until the forked lever 39 is moved by the succeeding projection 43 in the opposite direction, when the positions of the pawls will be reversed,

the first pawl catching the second tooth of the rack 33, and so on. The carriage thus moves forward half" the distance from one of the teeth of the rack to another each time the forked lever is pushed by one of the projections 43 on the gear 42. Now as the distance between the ratchet-teeth is twice the width of one row of stamps and the distance between the similar faces of the pawls 34 and 35 is the same as the width of-one row of stamps it will be seen that each time the carriage is shifted a fresh row of stamps is presented to be cut oif and affixed to the envelops; but it is also necessary as each row of stamps is finished and a new row started that the direction of feed in the carriage be reversed in order to cut off the stamps in the next row successively, and this is provided for as follows: Meshing with the pinion 56, Figs. 1, 5, and 6, is an intermediate pinion 57, which also meshes with the gear 53, carrying the star-wheel 54, which is intermittently moved by the pins 46. Now as the direction been cut offthe opposing'set of pins 46 on said gear operate the star-wheel 5.4 upon the gear 53, and the feed-rolls then turn intermittently in the opposite direction, as will be evident. To prevent the setting of the star-wheels relatively to the gear 42 from being changed when placing a new sheet of stamps in the carriage, the pinion 56 is secured to the shaft 30 by the device shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A collar 102 is secured to the shaft 30 by a key 108, and on this -.collar is placed a circular spring 101, which is secured to the collar at one end by a pin 107 and bears against the inside surface of the pinion 56 with sufficient tension to hold the same securely to the said shaft. The other end of the said spring 101 is secured by a pin 104 to a lever 103, which is pivoted by a pin 105 to the collar 102.

The

.ofmovement of the gear 53 is reversed by the free end of the lever 103 is near the shaft 30, a

and by turning the sleeve 58 by means of the knob 59 thereon the said end of the lever 103 may be pushed out, thereby drawing inward the free end of the spring and leaving the shaft 30 free to turn without moving the pinion 56 or changing the setting of the star- Wheels.

The sealed and stamped envelops are thrown ofif the table by the ejector mechanism shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 10 and 11. A be1l-crank lever 77 is pivoted on the table 26 at the rear central part thereof, and a spring 78 is secured to one end of the same, as shown in Figs. 4 and 11. A latch 79, carried by a lever 95, which is pivoted at 98 to the end of the envelop-magazine, normally holds the lever in the position shown against the tension of the spring 78. When the carrier 21 begins its forward stroke and the sealingpress 23 is in about the position shown in Fig. 3, a lug 99 on the side of the carrierstrikes an inclined projection 96 on the upper side of the lever 95, depresses the same, and releases the lever 77, which, being actuated by the spring 78, strikes the envelop and throws it off the edge of the table. As the carrier 21 continues on its forward movement the lug 99 engages with the lever 77, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 11, and pushes the same back to its original position, where itis caught and held by the latch 79 until the lever 95 is again depressed by the lug 99. As the carrier is raised up by the cam 18 0n its backward stroke, it does not strike the projection 96 on said backward stroke, but passes over the same.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine of a moistener arranged to moisten the envelops beneath their flaps, an intermittently'operated sealing-press and means for operating said moistener and sealing-press alternately.

2. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine having a follower therein, of a moistener arranged to moisten the envelops beneath their flaps, an intermittently operated sealing press and means for operating said moistener and sealing-press alternately.

3. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine, of an intermittently-operated sealing-press, a reciprocating moistener arranged to moisten the envelops beneath their flaps and means for operating said moistener and sealing-press alternately.

4. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine of an intermittently-operated sealing-press, a reciprocating moistener arranged to moisten the envelops beneath their flaps, means for operating said moistener and sealing-press alternately, and means for automatically ejecting the envelops from the press.

5. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an en velop-magazine and an intermittently-operated sealing-press, of a reciprocating moistener arranged to engage the envelops beneath their flaps and deliver them to the sealing-press,' and means for operating said moistener and sealing-press alternately.

6. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine having a stop at its outer end and a follower within the magazine adapted to force the envelops against the stop, of an intermittently-operated sealing-press, a moistener arranged to en gage the envelops beneath their flaps and deliver them to the sealing-press, and means for operating said moistener and sealing-press alternately.

7. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine having a stop at its outer end and a follower within the magazine adapted to force the envelops against the stop,of an intermittently-operated sealing-press, a moistener arranged to engage the envelops beneath their flaps and deliver them to the sealing-press, means for operating said moistener and sealing-press alternately, and means for automatically ejecting the envelops from the press.

8. In an envelop-stamping machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine, a press, and means for automatically feeding envelops from said magazine to said press, of means for automatically moistening the faces of the en velops, means forautomatically feeding a stamp-sheet, and means for automatically cntting stamps from said sheet and applying them to the envelops while the latter are in the press.

9. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine, a press, and means for moistening the en velops beneath their flaps and for transferring them from the magazine to said press, of means for applying moisture to the faces of the envelops, means for automat cally feeding a stamp-sheet and means for automatically cutting 01f stamps from said sheet and applying them to the envelops while the latter are in the press.

10. In an envelopsealing and stamping In achine, the combination Wilh an envelop-magazine, a sealing-press and a moistener arranged to engage the envelops. beneath their flaps and carry them from the magazine 10 the sealing-press, of means for lnoisteniug the faces of the envelops and means for automatically applying stamps to the envelops while in the press.

11. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an en velnp-magazine having a stop at its outer end and a follower within the magazine adapied to force the envelops against the stop, of an intermittently-operated sealing-press, a reciprocating moistener arranged ioengage the envelops beneath their flaps and deliver them to the sealing-press, means for operating said moistener and seal ing-press alternately, and means for automatically ejecting the envelops from the press.

12. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine the combination with an envelop-magazine having a stop at its outer endand a followerwithin the magazine adapted to force the envelops against the stop, of a sealingpress, a reciprocating moistener arranged to engage the envelops beneath their flaps and deliverthem to the sealing-press, a stationary moistening device arranged in the path of the envelops and adapted to moisten the faces thereof, means for operating said reciprocating moistener and sealing-press alternately, and means for automatically applying the stamps to the envelops while in the press.

13. In an envelop sealingand stamping machine the combination with an envelop-magazine having a stop at its outer end and a follower within the magazine adapted to force the envelops against thestop, of a sealingpress, a reciprocating moistener arranged to engage the envelops beneath their flaps and deliver them to the sealing-press, a stationary moistening device arranged in the path of the envelops and adapted to. moisten the faces thereof, means for operating said reciprocating moistener and sealing-press successively, means for automatically applying the stamps to the envelops while in the press and means for automatically ejecting the envelfaces thereof, means for operating said reciprocating moistener and sealing-press successively, a punch for cutting off stamps from a stamp-sheet and applying them to the envelops while in the press, and means for feeding the stamps in sheet form to the punch successively.

15. In an envelop-sealing machine, a magazine for the envelops having an adjustable back with vertical slots therein, and a follower within the magazine having tongues extending through saidslots.

16. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine, of a sealing-press, a moistener-support movable transversely of the magazine, and a hollow moistener having a tubular shank connected to said support and having a hollow flaring foot adapted to engage the envelops beneath their flaps and transport them from the magazine to the sealing-press.

17. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine having a stop at its outer end and a follower within the magazine adapted to force the envelops against the stop, of a sealing-press, a reciprocating moistener arranged to engage the envelops beneath their flaps and deliver them to the sealing-press, means for depressing the moistener duringits forward movement and for elevating the moistener during'its return movement,and means for operating said moistoner and sealing-press successively.

- 18. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine and asealing press of a moistener support movable transversely of the magazine, a moistenercarried by said support and movable vertically relatively thereto,said moistener being adapted to transport the envelops from the magazine to the press, and a guide arranged to depress the moistener during its forward movement and to elevate the moistener during its rearward movement. s

19. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine and sealing-press, of a moistenersupport movable transversely of the magazine, a moistener carried by said support and movable vertically relatively thereto,said moistener being adapted to transport the envelops from the magazine to the press, a guide arranged to depress the moistener during its forward movement and to elevate the moistener during its rearward movement, said guide consisting of a barextending parallel with the moistenersupport and having beveled ends arranged to engage a projection upon the moistener.

20. In an envelop-sealing machine the combination with a sealing-press and a magazine of a moistener-support movable transversely of the magazine, a moistener having a shank extending through an opening in said sup: port, said shank having collars thereon at either side of the support and springs interposed between the collars and support, and a guide-bar arranged parallel with the support and having inclined ends adapted to engage a part upon the moistener.

21. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination with an envelop-magazine, a sealingpress and a reciprocating moistener arranged to convey the envelops from the magazine to the press, of means for depressing the moistener during its forward movement and for raising said moistener during its rearward movement, a spring-pressed ejector, a latch for holding said ejector in its set position and means connected with said moistener for releasing the latch and for resetting the ejector during the forward movement of the moistener.

22. In an envelop-sealin g machine, the combination with an envelop-.inagazine, a sealingpress, a reciprocating moistener arranged to convey the envelops from the magazine to the press, of an ejector, aspring arranged to move said ejector, means for holding said ejector in its set position and means for automatically releasing and resetting the ejector.

23. In an envelop-sealing machine,the combination with an envelop-magazine, a sealingpress and a reciprocating moistener arranged to convey the envelops from the magazine to ICC the press, of an ejector comprising a pivoted lever, a latch for holding said lever in its set position, a spring for moving said lever to eject the envelops from the press and means operated by the moistener for releasing the latch and for resetting the lever.

24 In an envelop-sealing machine,the combination With an envelop-magazine and a sealing-press of a moistener arranged to transport the en velops from the magazine to the press, a reciprocating support for said moisten er, a link connecting said support With the press, a driving-shaftand a connecting-rod operated by said shaft and connected to the moistoner-support.

'25. In an envelop-stamping machine, the combination with a punch and means for re ciprocating said punch, of a carriage having feed-rolls adapted to receive a sheet of stamps, means for intermittently operating said rolls to bring the successive stamps in a row opposite the punch, means for automatically shifting the carriage after the last stamp in each row is cut off to bring another l'OW of stamps in line with the punch, and means for reversing the direction of movement of the feed-rolls When the carriage is shifted.

26. In an envelop-stamping machine, the combination with a punch for cutting off stamps from astam p-sheet and applying them to the envelops, of a carriage and means for feeding a sheet of stamps alternately back and forth with an intermittent movement, and means for shifting the carriage at each reversal of the feed mechanism.

27. In an envelop-stamping machine, the combination with a stamp-affixing device and means for operating the same, of a carriage movable relatively to said device and having feed-rolls adapted to feed the stamps to said aiiixing device, and means for intermittently operating said feed-rolls comprising an operatinggear having series of projections there on, a star-Wheel Within the path of said projections, and gearing connecting said star- Wheel operatively With the feed-rolls.

28. In an envelop-stamping machine, the combination with a punch and means for reciprocating said punch, of a carriage having feed-rolls adapted to feed the stamps in sheet form to said punch and means for intermittently operating said rolls comprising a driving-shaft for the rolls, a pinion on said shaft, an operating-gear having a series of projections thereon, a star-Wheel Within the path of said projections and a gear rotatable with the star-wheel and meshing with said pinion.

29. In an envelop-stamping machine, the combination with a punch and means for reciprocating said punch, of a carriage having feed-rolls adapted to feed the stamps in sheet form to said punch and means for intermittently operating said rolls and reversing the same, comprisinga driving-shaft for the rolls,

rolls at the completion of each row and means for automatically shifting the carriage to bring the succeeding row of stamps in line With the affixing device, comprising devices for releasing and stopping the carriage, an operating-gear and a tripping-lever connected to said device and adapted to be moved intermittently by said operating-gear.

31. In amachine for stamping envelops the combination with a punch, of a carriage having feed-rolls adapted to feed the stamps in sheet form to the punch, means for operating said rolls intermittently to feed each row of stamps to the punch, means for reversingthe direction of the feed-rolls at the completion of each row and means for automatically shifting the carriage to bring a succeeding row of stamps opposite the punch comprising an operating-gear having cam projections on its opposite sides, a lever having forked ends adapted to be engaged alternately by said projections, a dog operativelyconnected with said lever and a raclpupon the carriage cooperating with said dog.

32. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine the combination with a punch, a pivotally-mounted sealing-press, and means for rocking said press, of means for operating the punch each time the press is closed, comprising a shaft having an arm in engagement with the punch and a tappet-arm adapted to be engaged by an arm connected With the press.

In a machine for applying stamps to envelops the combination with a carriage having feedrolls, a driving-shaft for said rolls, a pinion, a clutch securing said pinion to said shaft, and gearing engaging said pinion for turning the same, of a hand device for turnii'lg the driving-shaft and means for releasing the clutch when the shaft is turned by the hand device.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses JOHN E. LESTER.

Witnesses:

JOHN HOOYT, N. E. JoNEs. 

